Former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party(NPP), Kwabena Agyapong has raised alarm over what he calls a growing culture of political retribution, following recent actions by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
This follows a ‘wanted’ notice reactivated by the Office of the Special Prosecutor for Ken Ofori-Atta.
At a press conference on Monday, June 2, Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng declared that the office had exhausted its patience with Ofori-Atta, citing what it described as persistent delays and failure to comply with ongoing criminal investigations.
“This office has always requested his attendance, and we have indicated clearly to him that we are unwilling to waive it. If we were amenable to taking any statement from Ken Ofori-Atta in absentia, we would have done so in February, and not waited till June 2, 2025.
“We want him here physically, and we insist on it. A suspect in a criminal investigation does not pick and choose how the investigative body conducts its investigations and the methods suitable to him and his convenience. We will not countenance this conduct, not in this case.”
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, Mr. Agyapong reacted to what he described as a ‘public’ prosecution of the former finance minister, saying that such actions blur the lines between legitimate prosecution and political persecution.
“What is happening is becoming a very dangerous cycle of retribution and vengeance, which makes it difficult for people to distinguish what is a proper course of investigation and political prosecution. It has got muddied,” he stated.
In his argument, he stated that with access to all state intelligence and prosecutorial tools, the OSP should focus on building a solid case rather than resorting to public declarations.
“The government has control of all the state security intelligence agencies. If you are building a case against someone, it should be easy with all these institutions available to the government and the attorney general to make the right decision.
“So, if the special prosecutor wants to prosecute someone, you are the prosecutor, and you build your case. After you are done and you believe in the evidence you have gathered, you proceed to court. You are not a judge to declare someone a fugitive, just because you cannot have access to the person,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Frank Davies, a member of the legal team representing former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, in an interview on Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, June 2, emphasised that Mr. Ofori-Atta is not evading justice but is currently unwell and undergoing medical treatment abroad.
“I want to understand that the Special Prosecutor knows what he is doing because the justice delivery system is not to be treated casually, especially when you are dealing with the fundamental human rights of a suspect or an accused person at this stage,” he said
Ken Ofori Atta diagnosed with cancer – OSP